RPAC / Ally

REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC)

The REALTORS® Political Action Committee's contributions are considered "Hard Money" in that they are Hard dollars that are, voluntary, individual personal contributions from REALTORS® and can be used to directly support candidates. Any family member of anyone affiliated with any REALTOR® organization, including COCAR™, may contribute individually, corporate checks cannot be accepted.

Hard Money is raised from individuals, not corporations. An individual may contribute up to $1,000 directly to a federal candidate per election and $5,000 to a PAC per year.

A hard money Political Action Committee can contribute $5,000 to a federal candidate per election.

RPAC contributions are split between National RPAC 30% (for federal candidates/issues) and State & Local RPAC 70% (for state and local candidates/ issues). Until the state PAC reaches its RPAC goal, 30% is sent to National RPAC to support federal candidates and is charged against your limits under 2 U.S.C. 441a. (applied against your federal campaign finance law contribution limit of $5,000 per year to RPAC.) Once a state PAC reaches its RPAC goal, it may elect to retain your entire contribution for use in supporting state and local candidates.

The REALTORS PAC of Oklahoma, the local affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS® PAC, is classified as a Limited Political Action Committee by the Oklahoma Ethics Commission. A limited committee is one organized to make contributions to candidates, and may also may make independent expenditures or electioneering communications. The Oklahoma Ethics Commission has issued rules and a Guide to Political Action Committees. More information on the Oklahoma RPAC is at http://okrealtors.com/rpac. REALTOR®, Institute Affiliate (CCIM, SIOR, IREM, etc.) or Affiliate membership in OAR is required for participation in the Realtors PAC of Oklahoma. The COCAR™ Government Affairs Committee makes recommendations to the Realtors PAC of Oklahoma for distribution of our share of the Local PAC funds to local candidates.

The NAR PAC operates the REALTORS® Action Center, which provides a variety of advocacy, education, and community outreach services for Local Boards. REALTOR® and Institute Affiliate Members (CCIM, SIOR, IREM, etc.) members may participate at the national level, with the NAR Midyear Legislative Meeting and Trade Expo in Washington DC being the primary plannery meeting.

Corporate Ally Programs (CAP)

The REALTOR® Party's Super-Pac is called the Corporate ALLY Program; they are advocacy fundraising programs to raise soft dollars. Soft dollars are corporate dollars and can be used in independent expenditure campaigns to support candidates. Soft dollars cannot be contributed directly to federal candidates, or to state or local candidates in some states. The Federal Election Commission Regulations define independent expenditure as expenditure for a communication "expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate that is not made in cooperation, consultation, or concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, a candidate, a candidate's authorized committee, or their agents, or a political party or its agents." NAR's policy is to only participate in positive independent expenditure campaigns that support NAR's positions on the topic.

NAR's Corporate Ally Program is a "soft money" type, Super PAC, that can only accept corporate contributions with checks made out to one of two funds, either:

Issues Advocacy

"Candidate Independent Expenditures" to support specific campaigns, but not corrdinated with the campaign. Note: Some corporate charters preclude their spending of corporate funds to support candidates.

Distribution checks for local issues and local independent campaigns are written by NAR affiliated organizations, with contributor preferences considered.

Corporate ALLY Program may only accept corporate checks from any corporation, not personal checks. Contributions to the NAR Corporate Ally program are split 50% Local, and 50% NAR, with NAR's portion being used to suppliment NAR's local, state, and national independent campaign & issues programs.

COCAR™ is chartered by the National Association of REALTORS® as a Commercial Overlay Local Board (#6931) and is affiliated with the Oklahoma Association of REALTORS®. Our intent is to provide commercial members with high-level commercial education, legislative advocacy and networking. Current REALTOR® members of other Local Boards in Oklahoma or adjoining states are welcome to join COCAR™ as secondary members, paying only local COCAR™ dues. NAR Commercial Institute Affiliates (CCIM, SIOR, IREM, CRE, or REALTORS® Land Institute) may join COCAR™ with no additional fees - Contact the COCAR™ Association Executive for more information.

COCAR™ is an operating division of SouthWest Real Estate Association, a not-for-profit corporation chartered by the State of Oklahoma (fed ID 47-4200644)

REALTOR®, REALTORS®, REALTOR-ASSOCIATE®, the REALTOR® Block "R" logo, REALTOR.com, and REALTOR.org are trademarks, service marks, membership marks, and/or logos of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.(used by permission)

COCAR.org and OklahomaForum.org are owned by SWREA as part of the COCAR division. Other divisions own Swassociation.org, swassociation.com, swrea.org, Cresummit.org, cresummit.net, dealmakingconference.com, realestateconference.org.